Communities Hope For Piece Of Wellington Action

They draw people like a magnet -- the top-rated schools, the well-maintained streets and homes, the prestige that promises higher property values.

Many covet the Wellington address and will often go to extremes to get it.

Several nearby communities are inquiring into becoming a part of the expanding village that has had a building and population boom over the last few years.

A few homeowners from Homeland, an equestrian community south of Wellington, have approached village officials about annexing into Wellington. They list several reasons -- the possibility of better water management, police patrols and strict code enforcement.

But the ability to claim the Wellington name has a large draw as well.

"There's no question the largest winner for us would be getting the Wellington address," said Steven Annunziata, a member of the homeowners association board.

After all, Wellington is the community that Money magazine last year named the seventh-best place to live in the eastern United States.

That particular accolade was secondary to Banyan Estates, a small, 40-home community east of U.S. 441, asking the village to take it into the fold. They wanted to make sure their children could go to the A-rated schools located in the village.

But if they were forced to make a decision between annexing into Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres or Wellington, the choice would be a no-brainer, said resident Mary Roll.

"[Wellington] has that little prestige thing to it," said Roll, a former homeowners association board member.

It wasn't always that way.

A planned development, Wellington has been promoted as a place for good upper-class living. But real estate agent Wanda Smith can remember when builders and developers were going bankrupt in the village in the early 1990s and she couldn't give houses away.

Now, demand is outstripping supply.

"Right now, we have a problem with having enough product to sell," said Smith, who has been selling real estate in Wellington for more than 20 years. "We have put some people in rentals until we find a place that suits them."

Many people want Wellington and won't settle for anything else. Homes on the market often get multiple bidders, Smith said.

Home developers also see the value in having a Wellington connection. Toll Brothers, Inc., is building a 178-home development, called Wellington View, with prices starting at $600,000. It's near the village but not in it.

Residents sometimes joke that's why it has a "view."

Banyan Estates resident Neil Feinstein is one of the few in his community who doesn't want to become a part of the village, mainly because he wouldn't want higher taxes.

Feinstein, a former homeowners association board member, said the community calculated that it would cost each home on average an additional $1,000 a year in taxes if they annexed. But that didn't deter the enthusiasm of his neighbors to join the village.

"We have people here who would like to live in Wellington," he said. "The extra $1,000 a year, it makes little difference."

But like Feinstein, not all are itching to get into Wellington. In fact, some communities want to steer clear of it.

Residents at Stonehaven Estates, which is nearly surrounded by the village, have not considered joining, said David Mills, a member of the homeowners' association board.

Someone brought up the idea at Banyan Lakes, but the homeowners' association board dismissed it, said board president Ruth Ivice.

And not all Homeland residents are keen on the idea of annexing into Wellington.

"A few people moved here to get away from Wellington," Annunziata said. "They don't want the bureaucracy."

Those communities that want to annex into Wellington face a long process. For one thing, the question of annexation would have to go on a ballot for residents to vote.

Banyan Estates faces a particularly large hurdle because it's not next to the village. It's blocked by a private golf course to the south and west and Banyan Lakes, which isn't interested in annexation, to the east. Those property owners would have to become a part of the village first before Banyan Estates could petition for annexation.

And Homeland residents aren't so sure the village is interested in their community. But they're keeping their fingers crossed.

"We hope to hear something," Annunziata said.

Angel Streeter can be reached at astreeter@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6643.